Chevy HHR: VSS – Circuit Malfunction

P0500 OBDII Trouble Code that can affect the Chevy HHR‘s Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS). The VSS sends a signal to the engine’s computer letting it know how fast that the vehicle is going.

It is used for many functions by the HHR. This signal controls transmission shifts and ABS. It also helps to control the speedometer. Repairing this should be a top priority.

Chevy HHR P0500 Symptoms

The symptoms will differ depending on which model year you are using and any other circumstances. These are some of the most frequent symptoms for P0500.

• Failed speedometer– Without a properly working vehicles speed sensor, the speedometer will not register any speed. It’ll just sit at 0 MPH while you are driving. You can see the The Odometer There are some cases where it may not even work.
• Cruise Control Failed– When a vehicle is not getting a signal from the VSS, it’ll not let the cruise control engage. This makes sense since it can’t control the speed when it doesn’t know how fast it is going.
• Harsh Shifts It is possible for the transmission to shift in a different way than usual.
• Anti-Lock Brakes– The HHR’s ABS may not work or could be compromised. VSS is just one of many sensors in a complex system that prevents wheels locking when there's heavy breaking pressure.

Chevy HHR: P0500 Reasons

• Bad VSS– More often than not, when P0500 is thrown, replacing the Vehicle Speed Sensor will remedy the problem. They're It's also quite affordable.
• Trouble with the wiring– Due to the location of the VSS, the wiring harness going from the vehicles computer to it can often become damaged and open/short out. The HHR may not be able detect the VSS if this occurs. It would be great to take a good look at your harness. You must make sure it is properly plugged. You can then check to make sure that no frayed wiring exists. Here’s What to do if you have a problem? (YouTube).
• Tires– On some vehicles, P0500 can be thrown if the tires have been swapped to a size that is different from the factory setting.

P0500 is the main reason that the code has been thrown almost all the time. The ECM/PCM could be bad. It is important to not look at the first place, but instead the second.

The wiring harness that leads to VSS can sometimes fail due to its location. It is a bad idea to replace it without checking it.

Fixed Price: P0500

You should inspect the Wiring Harness first. If everything looks fine, you can then inspect the VSS. Is there any visible damage to the VSS?

After you do that, (or before, if necessary), Good scan tool) it’s time to test the sensor and see if the VSS signal goes up and down with the vehicle speed. If it doesn’t, replacing the sensor could fix the problem. If it does, you’ll have to test the rest of the circuit.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to diagnose P0500 on the Chevy HHR. Don’t skip checking the wiring harness first. You are welcome!